The McLaren 650S GT3 will return to Mount Panorama circuit in Australia next month with four customer team-run entries confirmed for the 2017 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour. The race will also mark the competitive debut outing of new McLaren GT Driver Academy recruit Ben Barnicoat.
20-year-old Ben Barnicoat will join reigning Bathurst champions Tekno Autosports, alongside a strong factory driver line-up in the pair of class A Pro 650S GT3s. 2016 Bathurst champion and Pirelli World Challenge champion Alvaro Parente will share driving duties with Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup champions Rob Bell and Côme Ledogar in the #1 car, while Barnicoat is partnered in the #59 McLaren with Bathurst 1000 champion Will Davison and the highly experienced sportscar racer Jonny Kane, who also makes his Bathurst debut.
Objective Racing and Keltic Racing will also enter a 650S GT3: the former has entered its 650S GT3 into Class A Pro-Am with Australian GT regulars Tony Walls and Warren Luff sharing the #11 with experienced Supercars drivers Tim Slade and Alex Davison. Australian GT drivers Klark and Anthony Quinn meanwhile are confirmed for Keltic Racing’s class A Am entry.